PHILADELPHIA -- The ball seemed to explode out of Carson Wentz's hand at certain points Tuesday.

The Philadelphia Eagles star quarterback has been limited during the team's training camp, so when he's gotten the chance to participate in practice, it becomes its own miniature event within practice.

Late Tuesday morning, Wentz dropped back during a 7-on-7 drill, spotted wide receiver Greg Ward going across the middle and zipped a pass which Ward impressively snatched out of the air for a nice gain. A couple plays before, Wentz hit wide receiver Mack Hollins on an out along the sideline against cornerback Ronald Darby, who has locked receivers down during camp.

There are still questions about Wentz's surgically repaired left knee, and he hasn't participated in 11-on-11 drills for more than a week. He hasn't been cleared for contact yet, and the season opener is four weeks away. But Wentz has clearly answered one questioned during the Eagles' 11 training camp practices: His right arm is still powerful.

"I'm not out there with a radar gun or anything, but I feel real good mechanically and everything," Wentz said. "I feel very good, arm feels strong. I feel like I can make all the throws. I don't feel like I've lost a step with that."

Wentz said he began throwing again early on in his rehab, and he still looks good physically during 7-on-7 and individual drills at practice despite his lack of participation in the team drills over the past week.

But his practices have still been choppy. He'll take a couple 7-on-7 snaps in a row and then be limited to individual drills by himself while the team goes through full-team or contact periods. Wentz said it's been difficult to stay in rhythm sometimes, but it's still giving him something to prepare for when he eventually comes back. The quarterback compared it to sitting on the sideline while an opposing team goes on a long drive in a game.

"It's a little bit of a challenge, and I say that because he's engaged for about seven, eight, nine, 10 plays and then he doesn't get the 11-on-11 work," coach Doug Pederson said. "So for us, it's about attacking each period that he's in, whether it's the individual work or the 7-on-7s. Just detailing the work. He has to approach it like it's game week. I just keep talking to him that way."

The Eagles are keeping Wentz engaged during his long periods of inaction, whether it's his individual work or when he watches plays with the other backup quarterbacks from behind the play. Pederson said offensive coordinator Mike Groh and quarterbacks coach Press Taylor are also urging Wentz to prepare like it's game week, even if he won't be taking any snaps until Week 1 -- or later.

"We're not going to let anything slide," Pederson said. "From his decision making to accuracy of throws, feeling the pocket, even though it's 7-on-7s, timing, rhythm, all of that is part of the game. We just keep talking to him and putting him in those situations."

Wentz's return remains the biggest storyline of training camp for the reigning Super Bowl winners, and the quarterbacks seems to still be in good spirits despite his limitations. He's listening to his coaches, and he's slowly working his way back.

And when he is on the field for his limited stretches, it's worth watching.